($547+) Philadelphia, PA to Huntsville, AL Movers
Moving from Philadelphia, PA, to Huntsville, AL, runs anywhere from $547 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,987 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 835 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 7 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
- Full-service moves for smaller spaces (studio apartments and 1-bedrooms) start around $1,812, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,987 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,034 - $3,461, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $547 - $1,643.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Philadelphia, PA, to Huntsville, AL. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,264 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from Philadelphia, PA to Huntsville, AL
Moving options from Philadelphia to Huntsville fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $2,264 - $5,559 on this route, with movers handling all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 35% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 73% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This 835-mile route typically takes 2 to 7 days door to door.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 835-mile route from Philadelphia to Huntsville, broken down by home size:
- Full-service movers: $1,812 for a studio up to $7,987 for a 4+ bedroom home.
- Moving containers: $1,034 - $3,461 depending on home size.
- Rental trucks: $547 - $1,643, the lowest-cost option across the board.
- Freight trailers: $1,028 - $2,884, billed by the space you actually use.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated October 30, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Philadelphia, PA to Huntsville, AL
Full-service movers for the 835-mile relocation from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Huntsville, Alabama, cost between $1,812 and $7,987. With a long-distance moving company, loading, transportation, and unloading are all taken care of. If you want to skip packing boxes, too, that can be added for $300 - $2,000, depending on your home size. What you pay in the end is mainly a function of how much your shipment weighs and how far it's traveling. As a point of reference, local movers in Philadelphia typically charge a base rate around $282 plus $130 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Philadelphia to Huntsville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,812 - $4,176
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,264 - $5,559
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,643 - $7,987
Packing, storage, shuttle fees, and added coverage can stack on top of the base price. See the full add-ons and specialty services table below for what each runs from Philadelphia to Huntsville.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Pennsylvania to Alabama. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Peak moving season (May - September) limits truck availability and pushes up full-service moving costs. Booking during slower months can give you more scheduling room and a lower final price.
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Specialty moving services from Philadelphia, PA to Huntsville, AL
Specialty needs vary by market: 55% of Philadelphia movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Huntsville, 65% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing72% of local movers | $500 - $5,000 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready55% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Gentle Giant Moving Company | $200 - $1,200/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $300 - $2,400 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage10% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs48% of local movers | $1,000 - $3,000 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,500 - $10,000 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $749 - $1,423 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items27% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Gentle Giant Moving Company | $1,000 - $2,500 |
| Piano | Any piano type34% of local movers40% nationallyTop pick: Gentle Giant Moving Company | $800 - $3,500 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling8% of local movers | $300 - $1,500 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect9% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: Ramsey's Moving System | $650 - $2,000 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $300 - $15,000+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $300 - $3,500+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Philadelphia to Huntsville?
If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Alabama Trucking Association is a good first thing to confirm.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving offers the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing locks in your cost upfront, and 24/7 customer support is available throughout the move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. Operating since 1995, AVL staffs every move with full-time in-house crews trained on antiques, art, and other high-value items.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. As one of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, real-time shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Philadelphia, PA. At that distance, local movers often charge 30% - 40% more because they don't spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments the way national carriers do. If a direct route and faster delivery (averaging 2 days) are priorities, a local mover may be worth considering, but that service comes at a higher price.
Moving container costs from Philadelphia, PA to Huntsville, AL
Moving containers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Huntsville, Alabama, cost between $1,034 and $3,461. You're in charge of loading, and the timeline is yours to set. U-Haul allows 3 days while PODS gives you a full 30. After that, the company picks it up and delivers it to your new address. Running behind schedule? Storage in Philadelphia costs roughly $80/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Philadelphia to Huntsville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,034 - $2,028
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,469 - $2,842
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,823 - $3,461
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $75 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $150 per month for larger units (12 - 16 feet).
- Moving labor: Containers don't come with loading help, so many customers hire hourly movers for the job. Two movers for about 5 hours will run you around $700 in Philadelphia, PA, per moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Standard coverage only reimburses by weight. Full-value protection gives you more complete coverage for higher-value items and typically costs 1% - 2% of your total declared value, around $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 shipment.
- Access: National providers generally operate in both cities, but verify that a facility near your Huntsville, AL, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Pennsylvania to Alabama move in the past 90 days. Our pricing data is drawn from 1,500+ monthly data points across our vetted mover network and refreshed every month.
Pro tip: Before ordering moving containers, take a careful inventory of everything you're moving. A typical 1-bedroom home weighs around 3,000 pounds and fits in a single container starting at $1,034. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $1,469 - $2,842.
What are the best moving containers Philadelphia to Huntsville?
- Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
- U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
- MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)
Want a hand without paying for full service? A container or truck move does not mean doing all the heavy lifting yourself. You can hire a labor-only crew in Philadelphia to load and unload while you handle the drive, then book full help later if you change your mind. Three top-rated local crews for labor-only help in Philadelphia:
- Superior Moving & Storage (4.3/5), 45 years in business
- Flex Moving & Storage (4.8/5), 4 years in business
- Payless Moving Inc. (4.5/5), 17 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Philadelphia, PA to Huntsville, AL
Plan on $547 - $1,643 for a rental moving truck on the 835-mile route from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Huntsville, Alabama. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:
- Fuel for the drive: $266 - $304
- Daily insurance: $30/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $20
- Philadelphia daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.89 - $0.99
| Home size | Typical truck size |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 10 - 12 ft |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | 15 - 17 ft |
| 4+ bedrooms | 20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel) |
These are typical moving truck rental costs from Philadelphia to Huntsville based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $547 - $1,053
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $603 - $1,289
- 4+ bedrooms: $786 - $1,643
Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $547 - $1,643 does not include fuel ($266 - $304), lodging ($150/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from Philadelphia to Huntsville typically runs more than the base rate alone, with meals, equipment, and other extras adding roughly $600 - $1,200 on top of fuel and lodging.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
- Lodging: Budget around $150 per night if your drive requires an overnight stop. Typically, you'll make 1 - 3 overnight stops, depending on move distance.
- Moving labor: Bringing in professional loading help in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, usually costs about $700 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
- Gas: Fuel for the 835-mile drive falls between $266 and $304, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, moving pads, and vehicle trailers are easy to overlook but can add between $50 and $300 to your total.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Philadelphia to Huntsville?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
- Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
- U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars)
The best truck rental companies for this route, based on moveBuddha's ratings.
Freight trailer costs from Philadelphia, PA to Huntsville, AL
Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Huntsville, Alabama, when you want to do the loading yourself without having to drive a massive vehicle. The trailer is delivered, you pack it up, and the carrier handles the long haul.
What sets freight trailers apart is the pay-for-what-you-use pricing model. Each additional foot of trailer space you occupy adds to the cost. Pricing for a 2 - 3 bedroom move of this distance typically lands between $1,152 and $2,208.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Philadelphia to Huntsville:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,028 - $1,807
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,152 - $2,208
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,519 - $2,884
Pro tip: Freight trailers offer generous space but reward good packing strategy. The 4-foot ramp can be challenging for large or heavy pieces, and using the full 8-foot height takes careful stacking. Because you're billed by the linear foot, maximizing vertical space keeps your costs lower.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- More space: Freight pricing is based on exactly how much of the trailer you fill. If your items take up more than expected, the added footage can increase your cost by between $75 and $150.
- Peak season impact: Moving during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) often means higher trailer rates as demand increases across the board.
- Moving labor: Unless you plan to load everything yourself, factor in labor costs. Two movers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for roughly five hours typically average $700.
What are the best freight companies from Philadelphia to Huntsville?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Best known as a top moving container option thanks to its DIY hybrid model (you load, they drive), MovingYourself also doubles as a strong freight choice with their 53-foot trucks and pay-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. In addition to their well-known container service, U-Pack offers freight trailers that follow the same pay-by-the-foot model with no deposits or upfront fees, making them one of the most flexible freight options for budget-conscious moves.
Pro tip: One of the biggest advantages of freight trailers is speed. For an interstate move, freight delivery is one of the fastest options you have short of driving a rental truck yourself. It's a smart choice when your timeline is firm and you'll be ready to receive your shipment. If there's any chance your new place won't be ready or you need a few weeks of storage, a moving container with built-in storage may serve you better.
Cost of living: Philadelphia, PA vs Huntsville, AL
Good news for your budget: Huntsville isn't meaningfully more or less expensive to live in than Philadelphia. Cost of living index runs 94 there against 104 here. Focus your planning on the move itself rather than a change in monthly expenses. For reference, walkability and safety scores are 75/100 and 33.91/100 here versus 24/100 and 57.45/100 there.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Huntsville, AL to Philadelphia, PA guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Pennsylvania to Alabama in the past 3 months alone, keeping our pricing data current. Run your numbers through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. For context, we track 235 movers based in Pennsylvania, handy for sizing up options on this 835-mile route.
Our take
Full-service movers on the 835-mile route from Philadelphia, PA, to Huntsville, AL, run $1,812 - $7,987 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,034 - $3,461, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $547 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,264, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Qualitest Pharmaceuticals and Huntsville Hospital.
FAQs: Moving from Philadelphia, PA, to Huntsville, AL
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($266 - $304), daily insurance ($30/day), and equipment rentals ($7 - $20) on top. Overnight stops can add another $150/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
How long does a move from Philadelphia, PA to Huntsville, AL take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 2 to 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are often one of the faster options outside of driving yourself, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.
What is the best time of year to move from Philadelphia, PA to Huntsville, AL?
Aim for a move between October and March, when demand drops and rates tend to be lower across all service types. Peak season runs mid-May through mid-September, and weekends and month-end dates are pricier regardless of season. Alabama also has a hurricane season running June through November, worth factoring into your timing if you have flexibility. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Philadelphia, PA to Huntsville, AL?
Cutting 500 pounds from your shipment, roughly one bedroom's worth of items, saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route. Beyond that, staying organized matters just as much. A solid moving checklist keeps you on schedule and helps you avoid costly last-minute mistakes.
Is Huntsville a safe place to live?
Huntsville has a safety index of 57.45 out of 100 and a crime index of 42.55, compared to 33.91 and 66.09 in Philadelphia. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What percentage of Philadelphia movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 34% of movers in Philadelphia handle piano moves, and 27% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 40% and 26% nationally.